When I take up a new hobby, I don't just dabble in it. I immerse myself in it. I want to know as much as I can about it so that I can understand what I am doing and why. I also want to be a part of the culture surrounding it. When I started running, albeit on a bit of a whim, I became a bit obsessed. I wasn't euphoric before, during and after every run. And in the beginning this didn't even happen on half of my runs. But soon enough I couldn't get enough of it. I read a bagillion blogs (yes bagillion is a real word - because I say so), and I started reading all the books. I wanted to be inspired by finding someone like me, who is not the fastest runner. I wanted to feel connected to another 'average' runner. I still love reading blogs - Skinny Runner, Hungry Runner Girl, Sweaty Emily, Ali, and Sarah Oual - you know the girls - but I will admit that they all seemed to run at a pace that will forever be out of reach for me. But they give me hope.And with none of my friends into running, I love reading running blogs and books because I can feel like I'm having a 'conversation' with a friend about running. And when I had read every post and got myself caught up on all the running blogs I read religiously, I needed something else to read. So I started with the books. And there are some really great running books out there folks. Not just the technical books that lay out training plans, but the ones where people lay everything out there for you.And needing a bit of inspiration these days - I picked up this one I've been meaning to read for quite awhile:

How can you go wrong reading a book that has been called "the best novel ever written about running?"

In honour of this awesome read, I thought that I would share with you some of the other amazing 'running' books I've read. In no particular order:

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an all-night runner by Dean Karnazes. Hands down, all-time favourite running book. It starts right in the middle of a 200-mile relay that Karnazes is running alone in honour of a sick little girl. From the second I started this book I was sucked in. His running start isn't some epic moment, it's a night in a bar. He is humble and ultimately relatable. I can't recommend this book to enough people. Read it! It is honestly amazing.

Second Wind: One woman's midlife quest to run seven marathons on seven continents by Cami Ostman. This book is definitely inspiring. A woman who starts running later in life as a way to cope with her divorce and sets out to run seven marathons on seven continents. Hard core. But part of the reason I loved this book was because it doesn't sugar coat anything. Think: getting your period while running a marathon, or getting diarrhea while on a remote marathon course with no porta-potties and no cover to crap behind. The lengths this woman went to in order to run on seven continents and to finish each run displays a level of tenacity I have never seen. And I know I can certainly relate to using exercise as a cheap form of therapy.

Sole Sisters: Stories of women and running. Full disclosure here - I've started to read this book but I haven't finished it yet. It is full of short stories so if you are looking for a book you can pick up and put down then this may be the one. I also wasn't overly impressed by it...

The Lola papers by Amy Marxkors. I picked up this book while perusing the running section at Munro's Books in Victoria. I hadn't seen it at any of the big box book stores so I thought I'd give it a read. It definitely made me want to run - but instead of inspiring me to run, it made me appreciate it.”I had forgotten that running is a privilege, not a chore…Simple was better. Simple is how running is supposed to be.”

Born to Run by Chris McDougall. One of the quintessential running books and it tells the tale of Caballo Blanco (Micah True) who passed away only last year. If you want to read about True, you can find a fantastic New York Times feature HERE.This books has inspired so many since it was written - it's a great read.

And then, of course, there are the books I would still like to read:

Running on Empty by Marshall Ulrich

The Long Run by Matt Long

Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristen Armstrong

Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss by Dean Karnazes

Eat & Run by Scott Jurek

Have you read any running-inspired reads that I haven't mentioned? Or do you like/dislike any of the ones here?